In 2013, the treasurer's salary remained at $70,000.<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/4.11_2013.pdf ''Council of State Governments,'' Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, accessed January 31, 2014]</ref>

In 2013, the treasurer's salary remained at $70,000.<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/4.11_2013.pdf ''Council of State Governments,'' Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, accessed January 31, 2014]</ref>

===2010===

===2010===

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In 2010, the West Virginia Treasurer was paid an estimated $70,000 according to the [[Council of State Governments]].<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/system/files/Table_4.11.pdf ''The Council of State Governments'',"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved April 23, 2011]</ref>

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In 2010, the West Virginia Treasurer was paid an estimated $70,000 according to the [[Council of State Governments]].<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/system/files/Table_4.11.pdf ''The Council of State Governments'',"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011]</ref>

The West Virginia Commissioner of Labor is an appointed state executive position in the West Virginia state government. The commissioner is the head of the state Division of Labor, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Commerce, and is responsible for inspections, licensing, and labor law enforcement across the state.[1] The labor division's stated mission is "to insure the prosperity, economic growth and safety of all West Virginians by safeguarding rights and ensuring equity in the marketplace."[1]

Current officeholder

Authority

The state department of labor and the authority of the commissioner is established in Chapter 21, Article 1 of the West Virginia Code:

Chapter 21, Article 1, Section 1:

There shall be a state department of labor, which shall be under the control and management of a state commissioner of labor.

As established under §47-1-3, the commissioner of labor also holds the title and powers of the office known as commissioner of weights and accounts.[3]

Qualifications

There are no set qualifications for the office of labor commissioner. The West Virginia Code, under §21-1, states only that "the commissioner shall be a competent person, who is identified with the labor interests of the state."[4]

Appointments

West Virginia state government organizational chart

Chapter 21, Article 1 also establishes the method of selection and term schedule for the office of labor commissioner:

The state Commissioner of Labor shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He or she shall be a competent person, who is identified with the labor interests of the state. The Commissioner of Labor in office on the effective date of this section shall, unless sooner removed, continue to serve until his or her term expires and his or her successor has been appointed and has qualified. On or before the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred forty-one, and on or before the first day of April of each fourth year thereafter, the Governor shall appoint a Commissioner of Labor to serve for a term of four years, commencing on said first day of April.

Vacancies

Vacancies in the office of labor commissioner are filled by gubernatorial appointment with the consent of the state senate. The appointee continues to serve at the pleasure of the governor until their successor has been appointed and confirmed.

Duties

The West Virginia Division of Labor falls under the purview of the state Department of Commerce. The division conducts inspections of measurement devices, amusement rides, manufactured homes, elevators, and boilers. It licenses contractors, crane operators, and plumbers and enforces the state's labor and wage laws and regulations.[5]

Chapters 21 and 47 of the West Virginia Code elaborates on the duties of the commissioner. The officeholder, or their authorized representative, is authorized to enter any work place in the state to collect information relating to workers, wages, and working conditions. West Virginia's "principal factories and workshops" are inspected once a year, and the commissioner will inspect any work place if three or more "reputable citizens" lodge complaints with the office. The commissioner also provides an annual written report to the governor.[4] In his or her capacity as commissioner of weights and measures, the commissioner of labor is vested with additional powers and duties "with respect to the enforcement of Chapter 47, Article 1" of the state code. Among them, the commissioner has special police powers, "and is authorized to arrest, without formal warrant, any violator of this article."[3]

The commissioner manages the labor division's five sections in carrying out the following duties, as listed on the division website:[1]

Ensure legal and documented workers are treated honestly and fairly

Ensure payment of wages and benefits due employees

Ensure the payment of prevailing wage to those working on public-improvement projects

Register and license construction companies and verify compliance with other state agencies

The Manufactured Housing section enforces the West Virginia Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act. The staff of this section licenses manufacturers, dealers, and installers, and manages the state's manufactured housing recovery fund.

The Safety section enforces the Elevator Safety Act, the Steam Boiler Inspection Law, and the Amusement Rides and Amusement Attractions Safety Act. The office licenses private contractors who conduct inspections across the state, and issues certificates of inspection and permits to operate.

State budget

The budget for the Division of Labor in Fiscal Year 2013 was $3,427,325.[6]

Compensation

Chapter 6, Article 7-2 of the West Virginia Code lays out the exact compensation for certain state officers. According to this section of the state code, the salary of the commissioner of labor, beginning in 2006 and for each calendar year thereafter, shall be $70,000.[7]

2013

2010

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders. That information for the West Virginia Commissioner of Labor has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Recent news

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